Nutrition
Polar bears are among the world's largest living land carnivores. They live almost solely on a diet of ringed seal; although polar bears have been witnessed eating many other Arctic animals, including walruses, whales and reindeer. A polar bear's stomach can hold around 20% of its body weight, and can consume 97% of the fat from its meal. An average polar bear requires around 2.2 kg of fat per day to survive. This means that an average seal can provide around a week's worth of food for a polar bear.
The food supply can be erratic in spring and summer when the sea ice is unfrozen so the polar bear has adapted to fast for long periods. It also can become lethargic or inactive when the weather and terrain is unsuitable for hunting.
The most common method polar bears use to hunt is called still hunting. Using this method, a polar bear waits motionless next to a seal breathing hole for the seal to emerge. Once the seal emerges, the polar bear quickly bites into the seal, and flips the entire seal out onto the ice. Another method used is when a seal emerges onto land. The bear approaches silently till he is around 40 metres away, then charges the seal and grabs it before it can get into the water. Once the polar bear has obtained a seal, it kills it by biting its head, crushing it.
The food supply can be erratic in spring and summer when the sea ice is unfrozen so the polar bear has adapted to fast for long periods. It also can become lethargic or inactive when the weather and terrain is unsuitable for hunting.
The most common method polar bears use to hunt is called still hunting. Using this method, a polar bear waits motionless next to a seal breathing hole for the seal to emerge. Once the seal emerges, the polar bear quickly bites into the seal, and flips the entire seal out onto the ice. Another method used is when a seal emerges onto land. The bear approaches silently till he is around 40 metres away, then charges the seal and grabs it before it can get into the water. Once the polar bear has obtained a seal, it kills it by biting its head, crushing it.